By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Every Williston resident has seen the new Popeye’s restaurant and watched site preparation taking place for two other businesses planning to build at the former Williston High School location, but what would be a good name for the new shopping center?

            City Council President Debra Jones told council members at their most recent meeting that the developer’s proposed name, Williston Corners, didn’t sit well with her personally and she suggested a contest to let the community name the shopping center. The council agreed.

            “He is calling it Williston Corners and in discussing this with staff I said it’s not on a corner anywhere, it’s in the center of town essentially,” Jones said. “We said there’s already a Corner Deli it could be confused for. I contacted Developer Joe Schuemann and asked if he was married to the name and he said no.”

            Jones said Schuemann has assigned a corporate name to the 11.54 acre site for planning purposes, Williston Shopping Center, Inc., which won’t change, but Scheumann said the community was welcome to give the shopping center an official name that would be used to publicly identify the site.

            “What we thought this afternoon (during discussions with staff), we would love to ask the public what they would like to name it because he told us it didn’t matter for us to decide. I thought that was pretty exciting,” Jones said. “Tell them to send them in. We’ve only got a couple of weeks.”

            The council unanimously approved the preliminary plat for the shopping center at the council meeting. Final approval of the plat will be necessary. Tractor Supply and O’Reilly’s Auto Parts have committed to building stores at the site. The fourth store remains a mystery.

            BluRock will own the paved street running along the south side of the shopping center, SW 1^st Ave., which was once the main thoroughfare for school buses and private vehicles. The street will remain open to the public.

            This reporter tossed out a suggestion after the council meeting – Williston Rolling Hills. Jones said name would be considered. She said residents have submitted several good suggestions. Jones said the contest entries can be handed in at the front desk of City Hall or at the Chamber of Commerce office in City Hall.

            Deadline for submission is May 24.

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City of Williston Regular Meeting May 4, 2021; Posted May 14, 2021